Extractor



H. KOPLIN EXTRAC'I'OR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April '18. 1955 1N VEN TOR.I'm/Pm xo u/y Dec. 24, 1957 H. KOPLIN 2,817,228

7 EXTRAC'I'OR Filed April 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f L F Q a Q a: I

a Q i. r m 2 I I W I x M I N Q I III] l 'l |l| 4 1| I INVENTOR. Hfl/P/PYKOPL/N nite States Patent i EXTRACTOR Harry Koplin, Glencoe, Ill.

Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,989

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-242) This invention relates to improvements inextractors of the type adapted to extract liquid from clothes by theapplication of pressure thereto.

A principal object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofextractor for wringing liquids from clothes, fabrics or other materialsby pressure, in which pressure is obtained for forcing liquid from theclothes or fabrics by the displacement of water against a flexiblecontainer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pressure operated devicefor extracting liquid from clothes including a rigid container having aflexible clothes containing bag therein, in which the space between thecontainer and bag is filled with liquid and in which the liquid isdisplaced to displace the bag to squeeze liquid from the clothescontained therein by means of an expansible member in the liquid in thecontainer.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simplified andimproved means for supplying pressure to extract liquid from clothes orfabrics, in which a flexible expansible bag displaces liquid in a rigidcontainer against the wall of a flexible container, to squeeze waterfrom clothes or fabrics contained in the flexible container.

A further and important object of my invention is to provide a selfcontained pressure operated extracting unit particularly adapted for usein areas where water for supplying pressure to effect the extractingoperation may be scarce.

A further object of my invention is to provide an extractor in which twoflexible clothes containing bags con tained in pressure applyingcontainers are alternately operable to extract liquid from the clothesby pressure, and in which the means for supplying pressure for theextracting operation consists in expansible accumulator bags fordisplacing liquid in the pressure applying containers against theclothes receiving bags therein, and connected together through a closedfluid pressure system, whereby one bag forms an accumulator and storagecontainer for hydraulic fluid for expanding the other bag.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time asthe following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a, partial vertical sectional view taken through a pressureoperated clothes extractor constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view somewhat like Figurel, but illustrating the device in a condiupper end, a portion of whichextends within an upwardly Figure 3 is a view showing two connectedextractors like those shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which the means fordisplacing water in one extractor serves as an accumulator or storagetank for the other extractor.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 1 of thedrawings, I have shown a rigid pressure container 10 in the general formof the deep tub having a generally cylindrical wall 11, a bottom wall 12of a downwardly curved or concave form leading to a drain '13 connectedwith a drain pipe 14 and closed by a valve 15. The valve 2,817,228Patented Dec. 24, 1957 A ice 15 may be of any suitable form, butpreferably may be a quick opening valve to dump liquid from thecontainer 10 and to relieve pressure therefrom.

The container 10 also has a relatively heavy annular flange 16 extendingoutwardly from the upper end of the wall 11, and secured at its outeredge to a cylindrical wall 17, supporting the container 10 in verticallyspaced relation with respect to the ground.

In the space between the walls 11 and 17 and above the bottom 12 of thecontainer 10 is a partition 19 extending entirely around the wall 11 andwith the walls 11 and 17, forming a drain duct in the space between saidwalls for draining liquid, such as, water or cleansing fluid, extractedfrom the clothes, through a drain pipe 20.

Extending within the container 10 and terminating above the bottomthereof is a flexible clothes containing bag 21 which may be made ofrubber, neoprene or a likeflexible material. The bag 21 has a flangedrim 23 at its upper end, a portion of which extends within an upwardlyopening annular groove 24 extending about the upper face of the flange16, and another portion of which extends within a correspondingdownwardly opening annular groove in a retainer ring 26, secured to theflange 16 as by cap screws 27 and sealing the bag to the flange 16 andretaining the bag thereto.

A foraminous cover 29 extends over the bag 21 during the operation ofextracting water from the clothes therein. The cover 29 has a shield 30of a generally dome-like form extending thereover in spaced relationwith respect thereto for conducting liquid expelled through said coverto flow downwardly through passageways 31 leading downwardly along theflange 16 and the inside of the cylindrical wall 17, for the dischargeof liquid within the duct formed between the walls 11 and 17 and thepartition 19 and out through the drain 20. A clamping ring 32 is shownas being provided to clamp the cover 29 in engagement with the retainingring 26 during the clothes extracting operation in a manner well knownto those skilled in the art so not herein shown or described in detail.

The cover 29 and shield 30 are supported for removal from the top of theflexible clothes container 21 as by a pivoted arm 33 mounted on thevertical shaft 34 pivoted within a generally cylindrical upright supportbracket 35 spaced outwardly from and supported on the wall 17. The arm33 and shaft 34 thus form a movable support for the relatively heavycover 29 and shield 30, accommodating ready opening of the flexibleclothes container or bag 21 to place clothes therein and remove clothestherefrom and accommodating the cover to be alternately used for aplurality of extractors as shown in Figure 3.

An inlet pipe 37 leads within the container 10 adjacent the bottomthereof for supplying liquid thereto, which may be water under citywater pressure. A valve 39, herein shown as being a solenoid operatedvalve, is connected with the inlet end of the pipe 37 for controllingthe supply of liquid to the container 10 and for holding liquid therein.

Referring now in particular to the novel means for displacing liquidwithin the container 10, to displace the clothes containing bag 21upwardly along said container and force the clothes therein against theinside of the cover 29 to squeeze liquid from the clothes therein, aninflatable bag 40 is provided in the bottom of the container 10 in thespace between the bottom 12 thereof and the bottom of the clothescontaining bag 21. The bag 40 may be made from neoprene or any otherlike material which tially across the'bo'ttom 12 of the container 10.The bag 40 has an inlet neck extending along and sealed to a pressureconduit 43 by a sealing clamp 41. A suitable 3 sealing connector andpacking gland 42 is provided to seal the conduit 43 to the wall 11. Thesealing clamp 41 and packing gland 42 may be of any well known form toprovide a leakproof joint capable of withstanding the high pressuresnecessary for extracting water from the clothes in the bag 40.

The conduit 43 is connected with a three-way valve 44, operated byhandle 45. I A conduit 46 leads from one outlet from the valve to afluid storage tank 47 for returning oil thereto. Another conduit 49 isconnected from an inlet 50 of the valve 44 to the pressure end of a pump51, which is herein shown as being a well-known form of gear pump, butwhich may be of any form desired. A supply conduit 53 is connected fromthe storage tank 47 to the suction side of the pump 51, for supplyinghydraulic fluid such as oil thereto. The pump 51 is shown as beingdriven from a motor 54 through a belt drive 55.

When the flexible clothes container 31 is filled with wet clothes andthe valve 44 is in position to admit fluid under pressure to theflexible accumulator bag 40 through the conduit 43, the oil enteringsaid bag will inflate the same and displace the liquid in the containerto displace the clothes containing bag 21 upwardly and force the clothestherein against the inside of the cover 29 and force liquid from theclothes contained within said clothes containing bag. Liquid forced fromthe clothes in the clothes containing bag 21 will flow through theforaminous cover 29 and downwardly along the passageways 31, to drainthrough the drain outlet 20 in an obvious manner.

At the end of the extracting operation, the valve 44 may be turned to aposition to relieve oil under pressure therefrom and accommodate the oiltherein to flow to the tank 41 through the return conduit 46. If desiredpressure may be held in the bag 40 by turning the valve 44 in positionto bypass fluid from the pump 51 to the tank 49 and hold fluid underpressure in the conduit 43.

When it is desired to rapidly relieve pressure from the clothescontaining bag 21, the valve may be opened to dump water from thecontainer 11. While the valve 15 is shown as being manually operated, itis of course, understood that it may be power or solenoid operated ifdesired.

In Figure 3 of the drawings I have shown an extractor A and an extractorB, like the extractors shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the storagetank 47 is eliminated and an accumulator bag 40a in one extractor formsa storage tank for oil for inflating a similar bag accumulator 40b inthe other extractor. The bags 40a and 40b thus serve as accumulators foroil under pressure to be supplied to either bag.

In this form of my invention the extractors are of the same constructionas shown in Figures 1 and 2, so the same part numbers will be applied toeach extractor as were applied in the form of my invention shown inFigure 1, new part numbers only being applied to parts not illustratedin Figures 1 and 2, except for the inflatable accumulator bags, whichhave been designated by reference characters 40a and 40b.

The containers 10 may be connected with a source of liquid, such as,water at city pressure by means of a three way valve 60 and pipes 61, 61leading therefrom and connected to supply liquid to an individualcontainer to fill the same. The drains 13 may be connected to a common3-way valve 63 operable to dump liquid from either container 10, asselected, to relieve pressure therefrom.

The accumulator bags 40a and 40b are connected with a common pump 65 bypressure conduits 66 and 67 respectively.

The pump 65 may be a well known form of reversible gear pump, which whendriven in one direction will take fluid from the accumulator bag 40a andsupply it to the accumulator bag 40b, and when driven in an oppositedirection will take fluid from the accumulator bag 40b and supply it tothe accumulator bag 400. In this man- 4 ner, each accumulator bag actsas an accumulator and storage tank for hydraulic fluid, and oneextractor may be loaded while liquid is being extracted from clothes inthe other extractor.

As herein shown, the cover 29 pivotally carried on arm 33 and shaft 34may be used for both containers, and may be moved from one to the otherby swinging movement from one container to the other as is usual withsuch extractors.

It will be understood that modifications and variations in the presentinvention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A pressure applying device comprising a rigid container, a flexiblecontainer within said rigid container and having a rim sealed to saidrigid container and a bottom spaced from the bottom of said rigidcontainer to define a substantially liquid tight space between saidcontainers, the space between said containers being filled with liquid,means for displacing liquid in the space between said containers andthereby exerting pressure against said flexible container comprising anexpansible bag loosely carried in the space between said containers andsurrounded by the liquid therein, and means for supplying fluid underpressure to expand said bag.

2. A laundry apparatus particularly adapted to dry clothes by wringingwater therefrom by pressure comprising a rigid container, a flexibleclothes containing bag within said rigid container and sealed thereto atits rim and spaced vertically from the bottom thereof to provide apressure chamber between the outside of said clothes containing bag andthe inside of said rigid container, a foraminous cover for said clothescontaining bag, means clamping said cover to said rigid container, meansfor admitting liquid to said pressure chamber to fill the same, anexpansible bag within said pressure chamber, contained in and surroundedby the liquid in said pressure chamber and freely movable with respectto said rigid and flexible containers and a pump supplying fluid underpressure to said bag for expanding the same to displace liquid in saidpressure chamber and force said clothes containing bag and the clothestherein to move toward said cover to wring liquid therefrom.

3. In a pressure operated extractor, a rigid container having an openupper end portion defining a peripheral edge, a generally cylindricalwall and a bottom sloping toward and having a drain, a flexible clothescontaining bag within said rigid container and extending along the wallthereof and spaced from the bottom thereof, means sealing said flexibleclothes containing bag to the edge of said rigid container and forming apressure chamber within said rigid container, a valve for controllingthe flow of liquid from said chamber through said drain, a foraminouscover for said flexible clothes container, a second valve for admittingliquid to said pressure chamber to fill the same, an expansibleaccumulator bag in said pressure chamber surrounded by the liquidtherein and free from said clothes containing bag, and a pump havingfluid connection with said bag to expand the same and displace liquid insaid pressure chamber to force liquid from clothes contained within saidflexible clothes containing bag by pressure.

4. In a laundry apparatus for extracting liquid from clothes bypressure, a pair of rigid containers, a flexible clothes container ineach of said containers, each clothes container being spaced from thebottom of its associated container and being sealed thereto at the upperend thereof to provide a sealed space between the bottom of each rigidcontainer and flexible clothes container therein, means for admittingliquid to said rigid containers in the sealed spaces therein to fill thesame, means for displacing liquid in said containers to supply pressureto wring liquid from clothes in said flexible container comprising anexpansible accumulator bag in each rigid container contained in theliquid therein, and a closed hydraulic pressure circuit connectedbetween said accumulator bags for transferring hydraulic fluid from onebag to the other under pressure whereby one bag serves as an accumulatorand storage container for the other.

5. In a laundry machine for extracting liquid from clothes by pressure,a plurality of rigid pressure containers, a flexible clothes containingbag in each of said containers and sealed to the rim thereof and spacedfrom the bottom hereof to provide a sealed space between the bottom ofeach rigid container and the flexible clothes container therein, aforaminous cover movable to close the top of either of said containers,means for admitting liquid to the sealed spaces in said containers tofill the same and to hold liquid therein, means selectively operable todisplace liquid within said containers and to supply pressure to move aselected flexible container toward said foraminous cover to squeezeclothes thereagainst comprising in expansible accumulator bag in eachcontainer in the liquid therein, a closed fluid pressure circuitconnecting said bags together whereby one serves as an accumulator andfluid storage tank for the other, and other means for releasing pressurefrom a selected rigid container comprising means for dumping liquidtherefrom.

6. A pressure applying device comprising at least two rigid containers,at flexible container within each rigid container having a rim sealed tothe associated rigid container, said flexible containers being spacedfrom the bottoms of said rigid containers and providing sealed spacesbetween said rigid containers and said flexible containers, means foradmitting liquid in the sealed spaces in said containers, expansiblemeans in each sealed space for displacing liquid in said sealed spacesand exerting pressure against said flexible containers, and a closedhydraulic circuit interconnecting each said expansible means fortransferring hydraulic fluid from one expansible means to the other,whereby one expansible means serves as an accumulator and storagecontainer for the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,988,468 Woodward Jan. 22, 1935 2,042,378 Barge May 26, 1936 2,056,466Kauffman Oct. 6, 1938 2,336,428 Watson Dec. 7, 1943 2,423,878 DawsonJuly 15, 1947 2,612,100 Bates et al Sept. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS111,857 Australia Nov. 1, 1940

